Sustainable Seafood Myths and Misconceptions Part 1

September 18, 2017

Fish are a great source of protein, but they are a limited resource.

Humans have to eat. Food supplies us with the energy and sustenance we need to get through our days. It allows us to grow up big and strong so that we can accomplish daily tasks and strive for and fulfill our dreams. In the U.S., we have developed ways to ensure our food is readily available and that we don’t have to work too hard to get it.

Since the advent of agriculture, humans have grown crops and domesticated animals for a supply of food close at hand. With industrialization, we’ve developed ways to mass-produce food to feed large groups of people. From stores to restaurants to our homes, we have easy access to food supplies.

Developing Fish Farms: A Sustainable Way to Provide the World With Fish?

One way that has been proposed to solve the not-enough-fish problem is by developing fish farms. Humans and humanoids have depended on creatures that live in the water as a food source for a long time — going back as far as 200,000 BC. We continue to practice fishing today, both on individual levels and commercial levels. However, on a commercial level, fishing is dangerous and makes an impact on the environment.

Recently, there has been a lot of talk about fish farming and the pros and cons of raising fish for food in this way. It seems like fish farming is a new idea, but in reality, it has been around for thousands of years. A Chinese man named Fan Lai wrote a book in 475 BC to instruct others on how to raise fish for food. In Germany in 1733, a farmer successfully fertilized eggs, hatched the eggs and then raised the fish for food. Since then, the practice of fish farming has evolved and advanced.

Fish farms can benefit the environment by lessening the impact on wild fish populations, allowing species that have been overfished or are being threatened with overfishing to recover. Fish farms also create jobs and benefit local economies.

Issues With Fish Farms: More Harmful to the Environment Than Natural Fishing?

There are a several different ways to raise fish for food. For instance, the fish might be contained in small ponds or lakes or in pens/cages in the ocean. The species that are raised in these environments include catfish, tilapia, salmon, shrimp, mollusks and algae, among others.

Despite the fact that fish farms have existed for a long time, there are some problems with modern fish farming practices. The way the fish are raised can impact their health and how healthy they are for us. If fish are raised in small tanks crowded with large populations or fed diets that aren’t healthy, they probably aren’t going to be the healthiest fish for us to consume.

Problems that can arise on fish farms include pollution, disease, farmed species accidentally being released into the wild and sea lice. All of these impact the environment the fish live in and their bodies, which, in turn, can impact us.

Finding Sustainable Seafood Solutions

There are no easy solutions when it comes to our environment and sustainability. We have to eat, which means we have to either get our food from the wild or grow it. Both of these methods impact the environment and animal populations. The best way to reduce the impact is to make informed decisions and develop sustainable practices when it comes to food.

No matter what, our desire for seafood has affected the ocean and its delicate natural balance. If we want to sustain our desires and the health of the oceans and the world, we must find a balance between wild-caught fish and farmed fish.

As technology advances and better techniques are developed, it’s possible that aquaculture will become a better solution for our fish needs. Until then, we must continue to work together to develop better practices and make choices that ensure our health and the health of the environment.

Emily Folk is a sustainability and conservation freelance writer and blogger. She feels passionate about helping the planet and teaching others why environmental awareness is key. You can see her work also featured on Natural Parent Magazine, AltEnergyMag, and CSRwire.

About Me

Hello and welcome! I'm Emily Folk, and I grew up in a small town in Pennsylvania. Growing up I had a love of animals, and after countless marathons of watching Animal Planet documentaries, I developed a passion for ecology and conservation.